Device, system and method of power management in a wireless area network

ABSTRACT

Device, system, and method of power management. In some demonstrative embodiments, a device may include a wireless communication unit to transmit to a control point of a wireless area network an information request frame identifying at least one other wireless communication device in the wireless area network, wherein the wireless communication unit is to receive from the control point a response including wakeup information defining a wakeup schedule including at least one wakeup period of the other wireless communication device, and wherein, based on the wakeup information, the wireless communication unit is to transmit a wireless transmission directly to the other wireless communication device during the wakeup period. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/654,571, filed Oct. 18, 2012, which is in turn a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/538,925, filed Aug. 11, 2009, andentitled “Device, System and Method of Power Management in a WirelessArea Network”, which are both incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Minimizing power consumption is an important factor in the design ofwireless communication devices and/or networks in order, for example, toprovide longer battery life.

A Power Management (PM) scheme may be implemented by a wirelesscommunication network to allow one or more wireless communicationdevices (“stations”) to conserve power, e.g., by switching from anactive mode of operation to a power-save mode of operation, e.g., an“idle” or “sleep” mode of operation.

In some wireless communication networks, communication may be performedduring beacon intervals. A beacon interval may include one or moreService Periods (SPs) allocated to one or more stations. Each SP isallocated to a single station, such that only the station to which theSP is allocated is allowed to communicate during the SP. The beaconinterval also includes one or more Contention-Based-Period (CBP), duringwhich the stations may be allowed to communicate using a suitablecontention-based mechanism. The CBP may include a centric CBP managed bya controller or coordinator, or a distributed CBP.

A station may send a notification to inform other elements of thenetwork of one or more beacon intervals, during which the station willbe in the power-save mode. The station may be assumed to be eitheractive during a beacon interval, including all CBPs of the beaconinterval, e.g., if the station has not indicated that it will be in thepower-save mode during the beacon interval; or to be in the power-savemode for the entirety of the beacon interval, e.g., if the station hasindicated that it will be in the power-save mode during the beaconinterval.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to otherelements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numeralsmay be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. The figures are listed below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a system inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow-chart illustration of a method of powermanagement during a contention-based period, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow-chart illustration of a method of powermanagement scheduling, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustration of an article ofmanufacture, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments.However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the artthat some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe discussion.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing”,“computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information storage medium that may storeinstructions to perform operations and/or processes.

The terms “plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein include, forexample, “multiple” or “two or more”. For example, “a plurality ofitems” includes two or more items.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices andsystems, for example, a Personal Computer (PC), a desktop computer, amobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tabletcomputer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld PDA device, anon-board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device, a vehiculardevice, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, a consumerdevice, a non-mobile or non-portable device, a wireless communicationstation, a wireless communication device, a wireless Access Point (AP),a wired or wireless router, a wired or wireless modem, a video device,an audio device, an audio-video (NV) device, a Set-Top-Box (STB), aBlu-ray disc (BD) player, a BD recorder, a Digital Video Disc (DVD)player, a High Definition (HD) DVD player, a DVD recorder, a HD DVDrecorder, a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), a broadcast HD receiver, avideo source, an audio source, a video sink, an audio sink, a stereotuner, a broadcast radio receiver, a flat panel display, a PersonalMedia Player (PMP), a digital video camera (DVC), a digital audioplayer, a speaker, an audio receiver, an audio amplifier, a gamingdevice, a data source, a data sink, a Digital Still camera (DSC), awired or wireless network, a wireless area network, a Wireless VideoArea Network (WVAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless LAN (WLAN),a Personal Area Network (PAN), a Wireless PAN (WPAN), devices and/ornetworks operating in accordance with existing IEEE 802.11 (IEEE802.11-1999: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer(PHY) Specifications), 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11h, 802.11j,802.11n, 802.16, 802.16d, 802.16e, 802.16f, standards and/or futureversions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networks operatingin accordance with existing Wireless-Gigabit-Alliance (WGA) and/orWirelessHD™ specifications and/or future versions and/or derivativesthereof, units and/or devices which are part of the above networks, oneway and/or two-way radio communication systems, cellular radio-telephonecommunication systems, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, aPersonal Communication Systems (PCS) device, a PDA device whichincorporates a wireless communication device, a mobile or portableGlobal Positioning System (GPS) device, a device which incorporates aGPS receiver or transceiver or chip, a device which incorporates an RFIDelement or chip, a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transceiver ordevice, a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) transceiver or device, aMultiple Input Single Output (MISO) transceiver or device, a devicehaving one or more internal antennas and/or external antennas, DigitalVideo Broadcast (DVB) devices or systems, multi-standard radio devicesor systems, a wired or wireless handheld device (e.g., BlackBerry, PalmTreo), a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) device, or the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types ofwireless communication signals and/or systems, for example, RadioFrequency (RF), Infra Red (IR), Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM),Orthogonal FDM (OFDM), Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time-DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA), Extended TDMA (E-TDMA), General Packet RadioService (GPRS), extended GPRS, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA),Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, single-carrier CDMA, multi-carrierCDMA, Multi-Carrier Modulation (MDM), Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT),Bluetooth®, Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, ZigBee™,Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), 2G,2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), or thelike. Other embodiments may be used in various other devices, systemsand/or networks.

The term “wireless device” as used herein includes, for example, adevice capable of wireless communication, a communication device capableof wireless communication, a communication station capable of wirelesscommunication, a portable or non-portable device capable of wirelesscommunication, or the like. In some demonstrative embodiments, awireless device may be or may include a peripheral that is integratedwith a computer, or a peripheral that is attached to a computer. In somedemonstrative embodiments, the term “wireless device” may optionallyinclude a wireless service.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with suitablelimited-range or short-range wireless communication networks, forexample, a wireless area network, a “piconet”, a WPAN, a WVAN and thelike.

Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein with reference to afrequency band of 60 GHz. However, other embodiments may be implementedutilizing any other suitable wireless communication frequency bands, forexample, an Extremely High Frequency (EHF) band (the millimeter wave(mmwave) frequency band), e.g., a frequency band within the frequencyband of between 30 Ghz and 300 GHZ, a WLAN frequency band, a WPANfrequency band, a frequency band according to the IEEE 802.11 and/or WGAspecifications, and the like.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which schematically illustrates a blockdiagram of a system 100 in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 mayinclude a wireless area network including one or more wirelesscommunication devices capable of communicating content, data,information and/or signals over one or more suitable wirelesscommunication links, for example, a radio channel, an IR channel, a RFchannel, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) channel, and the like. One or moreelements of system 100 may optionally be capable of communicating overany suitable wired communication links.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 may include one or morestations, e.g., stations 102, 105 and 106; and a control point 124 tocontrol and/or coordinate communications between the stations.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one of the stations of system 100 mayperform the functionality of control point 124; and/or station 102,station 105 and/or station 106 may perform the functionality of controlpoint 124.

In some demonstrative embodiments, station 102, station 105, station 106and control point 124 may perform the functionality of aPersonal-Independent-Basic-Service-Set (PBSS), a WPAN, a WVAN, apiconet, and/or any other suitable network.

In some demonstrative embodiments, control point 124 may include asuitable PBSS Control Point (PCP) or a coordinator, e.g., as defined bythe IEEE 802.11 and/or WGA specifications.

In some demonstrative embodiments, station 102, station 105, station 106and/or control point 124 may include, for example, a PC, a desktopcomputer, a mobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, atablet computer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handhelddevice, a PDA device, a handheld PDA device, an on-board device, anoff-board device, a hybrid device (e.g., combining cellular phonefunctionalities with PDA device functionalities), a consumer device, avehicular device, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, anon-mobile or non-portable device, a cellular telephone, a PCS device, aPDA device which incorporates a wireless communication device, a mobileor portable GPS device, a DVB device, a relatively small computingdevice, a non-desktop computer, a “Carry Small Live Large” (CSLL)device, an Ultra Mobile Device (UMD), an Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC), aMobile Internet Device (MID), an “Origami” device or computing device, adevice that supports Dynamically Composable Computing (DCC), acontext-aware device, a video device, an audio device, an A/V device, aSTB, a BD player, a BD recorder, a DVD player, a HD DVD player, a DVDrecorder, a HD DVD recorder, a PVR, a broadcast HD receiver, a videosource, an audio source, a video sink, an audio sink, a stereo tuner, abroadcast radio receiver, a flat panel display, a PMP, a DVC, a digitalaudio player, a speaker, an audio receiver, a gaming device, an audioamplifier, a data source, a data sink, a DSC, a media player, aSmartphone, a television, a music player, or the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, station 106 may include a wirelesscommunication unit 108 to communicate with station 102, station 105and/or control point 124, e.g., as described below. Station 106 may alsoinclude, for example, one or more of a processor 120, an input unit 112,an output unit 114, a memory unit 118, and a storage unit 116. Station106 may optionally include other suitable hardware components and/orsoftware components. In some demonstrative embodiments, some or all ofthe components of station 106 may be enclosed in a common housing orpackaging, and may be interconnected or operably associated using one ormore wired or wireless links. In other embodiments, components ofstation 106 may be distributed among multiple or separate devices.

Processor 120 includes, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), aDigital Signal Processor (DSP), one or more processor cores, asingle-core processor, a dual-core processor, a multiple-core processor,a microprocessor, a host processor, a controller, a plurality ofprocessors or controllers, a chip, a microchip, one or more circuits,circuitry, a logic unit, an Integrated Circuit (IC), anApplication-Specific IC (ASIC), or any other suitable multi-purpose orspecific processor or controller. Processor 120 executes instructions,for example, of an Operating System (OS) of station 106, and/or of oneor more suitable applications.

Input unit 112 includes, for example, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, atouch-pad, a track-ball, a stylus, a microphone, or other suitablepointing device or input device. Output unit 114 includes, for example,a monitor, a screen, a flat panel display, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)display unit, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display unit, a plasmadisplay unit, one or more audio speakers or earphones, or other suitableoutput devices.

Memory unit 118 includes, for example, a Random Access Memory (RAM), aRead Only Memory (ROM), a Dynamic RAM (DRAM), a Synchronous DRAM(SD-RAM), a flash memory, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, acache memory, a buffer, a short term memory unit, a long term memoryunit, or other suitable memory units. Storage unit 116 includes, forexample, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a Compact Disk (CD)drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD drive, or other suitable removable ornon-removable storage units. Memory unit 118 and/or storage unit 116,for example, may store data processed by station 106.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108includes, for example, one or more wireless transmitters, receiversand/or transceivers able to send and/or receive wireless communicationsignals, RF signals, frames, blocks, transmission streams, packets,messages, data items, and/or data. For example, wireless communicationunit 108 may include or may be implemented as part of a wireless NetworkInterface Card (NIC), and the like.

Wireless communication unit 108 may include, or may be associated with,one or more antennas or one or more sets of antennas 110. Antennas 110may include, for example, an internal and/or external RF antenna, adipole antenna, a monopole antenna, an omni-directional antenna, an endfed antenna, a circularly polarized antenna, a micro-strip antenna, adiversity antenna, or other type of antenna suitable for transmittingand/or receiving wireless communication signals, blocks, frames,transmission streams, packets, messages and/or data.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 maybe capable of communicating over the mmwave frequency band, for example,the 60 GHz frequency band. Wireless communication unit 108 may becapable of communicating over any other suitable wireless communicationfrequency band, in addition to or instead of the 60 GHz frequency band.In one example, wireless communication unit 108 may include a multi-bandwireless communication unit capable of communicating over two or morewireless communication frequency bands, e.g., the 60 GHz frequency bandand the 2.4/5 GHz frequency band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, communication between station 102,station 105, station 106 and/or control point 124 may be performedduring Beacon Intervals (BIs), e.g., in accordance with the WGAspecification and/or any other suitable specification. A BI may includeone or more Service Periods (SPs) allocated to one or more stations.Each SP may be allocated to a single station, such that only the stationto which the SP is allocated is allowed to communicate during the SP.The BI also includes one or more Contention-Based-Periods (CBPs), duringwhich the stations may be allowed to communicate using a suitablecontention-based mechanism. The CBP may include a centric CBP managed bycontrol point 124, or a distributed contention-based-period.

In some demonstrative embodiments, station 102, 105 and/or 106 mayswitch between a first power-consumption (“active” or “awake”) mode ofoperation, in which the stations may communicate over the network; andbetween a second, reduced, power-consumption (“power-save” or “sleep”)mode of operation. A station, e.g., station 102, 105 and/or 106, maysend a notification to inform other elements of the network, e.g., otherstations and/or control point 124, of one or more beacon intervals,during which the station will be in the power-save mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a station, e.g., station 102,intending to transmit a transmission to at least one other station,e.g., station 106, at a certain time during a CBP, may be required todetermine whether the other station is active or not at the certaintime. For example, if station 106 has indicated to station 102 thatstation 102 is intending to be active during a BI, and during a CBP ofthe BI, station 106 switches to the power-save mode without notifyingstation 102, then station 102 may attempt to perform a transmission tostation 106, when station 106 is in the power-save mode. If station 106has indicated to station 102 that station 102 is intending to be in thepower-save mode during a BI, and during a CBP of the BI, station 106switches to the active mode without notifying station 102, then station102 may avoid a transmission to station 106 during the CBP, althoughstation 106 is active.

In some demonstrative embodiments, station 102, station 105, station 106and/or control point 124 may implement a Power Management (PM) schemeallowing a station, e.g., station 106. to switch between the active modeand the power-save mode, even during one or more CBPs of a BI, e.g., asdescribed in detail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 mayoperate in the active mode to communicate with station 102, station 105and/or control point 124 during a CBP of a BI, to switch from the activemode to the power-save mode during the CBP and/or to switch from thepower-save mode to the active mode during the CBP, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the CBP may include a centric CBPmanaged by control point 124, e.g., in accordance with the WGAspecification and/or any other suitable specification. According tothese embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit, e.g.,during a CBP, a message informing control point 124 that wirelesscommunication unit 108 is to switch from the active mode to thepower-save mode. The message may include, for example, a frame having apower-mode bit set to a predefined value, e.g., one. Wirelesscommunication unit 108 may switch to the power-save mode upon receivingan acknowledgment from control point 124.

For example, wireless communication unit 108 may send a suitable frame,e.g., a Targeted-Request-To-Send (TRTS) frame or a Quality-of-Service(QoS) Null frame, to control point 124, e.g., at any time during aPCP-centric CBP. If wireless communication unit 108 is engaged incommunication with control unit 124, then wireless communication unit108 may send a TRTS frame or a data frame. The frame may include anysuitable predefined power-mode bit set to a predefined value, e.g., one,indicating that wireless communication unit 108 requests to switch tothe power-save mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, upon receiving the frame with thepower-mode bit set to one, control point 124 may send anacknowledgement, e.g., in the form of a Target-Clear-To-Send (TCTS)frame or an acknowledgement (ACK) frame, having the power-mode bit setto a predefined value, e.g., one. Control point 124 may send anacknowledgement to one or more, e.g., all, stations in the PBSS,including station 106. Upon receiving the acknowledgement, wirelesscommunication unit 108 may switch to the power-save mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the CBP may include a distributedCBP, e.g., in accordance with the WGA specification and/or any othersuitable specification. According to these embodiments, wirelesscommunication unit 108 may transmit to other wireless communicationdevices of the PBSS, e.g., stations 102 and 105, one or more messagesinforming the wireless communication devices that wireless communicationunit 108 is to switch from the active mode to the power-save mode. Atleast one of the messages may include, for example, a frame having apower-mode bit set to a predefined value, e.g., one. A station, e.g.,station 102 and/or 105, receiving the message from wirelesscommunication unit 108 may be notified that station 106 will be in thepower-save mode; and, in response, transmit an acknowledgement tostation 106. Wireless communication unit 108 may switch to thepower-save mode, for example, upon receiving an acknowledgment from eachof the other wireless communication devices in the PBSS.

For example, during the distributed CBP, wireless communication unit 106may send to each station of the PBSS, e.g., stations 102 and 105, dataframes and/or QoS-NULL frames with the power-mode bit set to one, toindicate that wireless communication unit 108 is to switch to thepower-save mode. Wireless communication unit 108 may switch to thepower-save mode, for example, upon receiving an ACK to the last dataframe sent by wireless communication unit 108.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 maysend a frame having the power-mode bit set to another predefined value,e.g., zero, to indicate that wireless communication unit 108 is to be inthe active mode, e.g., to switch from the power-save mode to the activemode, during the CBP. It may be assumed, for example, by stations 102and 105 that station 106 is in the active mode during the CBP, e.g., ifstations 102 and 105 do not receive a message from control point 124 orwireless communication device 108 indicating that wireless communicationunit 108 is to switch to the power-save mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the notification sent by wirelesscommunication unit 108 may be used to indicate any suitable predefinedPM scheme during one or more CBPs.

In one example, the PM scheme may define that a station, e.g., station106, may set the power-mode bit to one during a CBP (“the current CBP”)of a BI (“the current BI”) to indicate that the station is to switch tothe power-save mode and remain in the power-save mode until the end ofthe BI, e.g., such that the station is to be in the power-save modeduring the current CBP as well as any additional CBPs, if any, of thecurrent BI. For example, if the current BI includes three CBPs, station106 may be active during a first CBP and part of a second CBP; andstation 106 may send a frame having the power-mode bit set to one duringthe second CBP, to indicate that station 106 is to switch to thepower-save mode and remain in the power-save mode until the end of thesecond CBP and during the third CBP, e.g., unless station 106 sends aframe having the power-mode bit set to zero, prior to or during thethird CBP.

In another example, the PM scheme may define that a station, e.g.,station 106, may set the power-mode bit to one during the current CBP ofthe current BI to indicate that the station is to switch to thepower-save mode and remain in the power-save mode until the end of thecurrent CBP, e.g., such that the station is to be active in a next CBP,if any, of the current BI. For example, if the current BI includes threeCBPs, station 106 may be active during a first CBP and part of thesecond CBP; and station 106 may send a frame having the power-mode bitset to one during the second CBP, to indicate that station 106 is toswitch to the power-save mode and remain in the power-save mode untilthe end of the second CBP. Station 106 may be active during the thirdCBP, e.g., unless station 106 sends another frame having the power-modebit set to one during the third CBP.

Reference is made to FIG. 2, which schematically illustrates a method ofpower management during a CBP, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more operationsof the method of FIG. 2 may be performed by a wireless network e.g., thePBSS of FIG. 1, a communication device, e.g., station 106 (FIG. 1),and/or a wireless communication unit, e.g., wireless communication unit108 (FIG. 1).

As indicated at block 202, the method may include operating a wirelesscommunication unit in an active mode to communicate with one or moreother wireless communication devices in a wireless area network during aCBP of a BI. For example, wireless communication unit 108 (FIG. 1) mayoperate in an active mode during a CBP, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 204, the method may include switching the wirelesscommunication unit from the active mode to a power-save mode during theCBP. For example, wireless communication unit 108 (FIG. 1) may switch tothe power-save mode during the CBP, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 206, in some demonstrative embodiments, the CBPmay include a centric CBP managed by a control point. For example, theCBP may include a centric CBP managed by control point 124 (FIG. 1),e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 208, the method may include transmitting a messagefrom the wireless communication device to the control point, wherein themessage includes an indication to the control point that the wirelesscommunication unit is to switch from the active mode to the power-savemode. For example, wireless communication unit 108 (FIG. 1) may transmitto control point 124 (FIG. 1) a frame having the power-mode bit set toone, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 210, the method may include receiving anacknowledgement from the control point. For example, wirelesscommunication unit 108 (FIG. 1) may receive an ACK or TCTS frame fromcontrol point 124 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 212, the method may include switching the wirelesscommunication unit to the power-save mode upon receiving theacknowledgment from the control point. For example, wirelesscommunication unit 108 (FIG. 1) may switch to the power-save mode uponreceiving the acknowledgement.

As indicated at block 214, in some demonstrative embodiments, the CBPincludes a distributed CBP, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 216, the method may include transmitting one ormore messages from the wireless communication unit to the other wirelesscommunication devices, the messages informing the wireless communicationdevices that the wireless communication unit is to switch from theactive mode to the power-save mode. For example, wireless communicationunit 108 (FIG. 1) may transmit, e.g., during the CBP, a frame having thepower-mode bit set to one to stations 102 and/or 105 (FIG. 1) and/orother stations of a PBSS.

As indicated at block 218, the method may include receiving anacknowledgment from each of the other wireless communication devices.For example, wireless communication unit 108 (FIG. 1) may receive anacknowledgement frame from stations 102 and/or 105 (FIG. 1) and/or otherstations, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 220, the method may include switching the wirelesscommunication unit to the power-save mode upon receiving theacknowledgment from each of the other wireless communication devices.For example, wireless communication unit 108 (FIG. 1) may switch to thepower-save mode upon receiving the acknowledgements, e.g., as describedabove.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments a PBSS,e.g., including station 102, station 105, station 106 and/or controlpoint 124, may implement a PM scheme allowing a first station, e.g.,station 106, to receive information regarding an operation mode of asecond station in the PBSS, e.g., station 102 and/or station 105, and/orto negotiate with the second station an active/power-save schedule(“wakeup schedule”), e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 maytransmit to control point 124 an information request frame identifyingat least one other wireless communication device in the PBSS, e.g.,station 102. In response, wireless communication unit 108 may receivefrom control point 124 a response including wakeup information defininga wakeup schedule including at least one wakeup period of the otherwireless communication device, e.g., during a CBP of a BI. Based on thewakeup information, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit awireless transmission directly to the other wireless communicationdevice during the wakeup period of the other wireless communicationdevice.

For example, during a CBP, wireless communication unit 108 may transmitto control point 124 a frame, e.g., a TRTS, including a Target Address(TA) set to an address of station 102, which may be in the power-savemode during the CBP. In response, control point 124 may send to wirelesscommunication unit 108 a frame, e.g., as TCTS, including a field, e.g.,a duration field, set to a predefined value, e.g., zero, indicating thatstation 102 is in the power-save mode. The TCTS may also be received byother stations of the PBSS, e.g., station 105, thereby to inform theother stations that station 102 is in the power-save mode. Control point124 may also send to station 106 a suitable frame, e.g., an unsolicitedInformation Response frame, including information, e.g., in the form ofa wakeup-schedule Information Element (IE), regarding a wakeup scheduleof station 102. Based on the wakeup schedule of station 102, wirelesscommunication unit 108 may transmit a transmission directly to station102, e.g., when station 102 will switch to the active mode of operation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 108 mayestablish a common wakeup schedule with at least one other wirelesscommunication device of the PBSS, e.g., station 102. The common wakeupschedule may include at least one common wakeup period for directcommunication between wireless communication unit 108 and station 102.For example, wireless communication unit 108 may transmit to the otherwireless communication device a wakeup-configuration request definingthe common wakeup schedule.

For example, based on the wakeup schedule IE of station 102, wirelesscommunication unit 108 may determine a BI in which station 102 is to beactive, and wireless communication unit 108 may also be active in thesame BI as station 102, to initiate a data communication with station102. In one example, wireless communication unit 108 may send a suitableframe (“the Power Save Configuration Request frame”) to station 102including information identifying a common wakeup schedule. Station 102may accept the wakeup schedule and send back to station 106 a suitablewakeup-configuration acknowledgement frame (“the Power SaveConfiguration Response frame”).

In some demonstrative embodiments, station 102 and/or wirelesscommunication device 108 may transmit information defining the commonwakeup schedule to control point 124. For example, upon receiving thewakeup-configuration acknowledgment from station 102, wirelesscommunication unit 108 may transmit to control point 124 a first PowerSave Configuration Request frame to update the wakeup schedule ofstation 106 according to the common wakeup schedule; and/or station 102may transmit to control point 124 a second Power Save ConfigurationRequest frame to update the wakeup schedule of station 102 according tothe common wakeup schedule.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the PM scheme may allow differentwakeup schedules to be defined for different links within the PBSS.

In one embodiment, wireless communication unit 108 may establish atleast first and second different common wakeup schedules with at leastfirst and second respective other wireless communication devices of thePBSS. For example, wireless communication unit 108 may establish a firstcommon wakeup schedule with station 102 and a second, different, wakeupschedule with station 105.

In another embodiment, the common wakeup schedule defined betweenstations 102 and 106 may be different from a wakeup schedule definedbetween station 102 and control point 124 and/or a wakeup scheduledefined between station 106 and control point 124.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the wakeup schedules between station106 and control point 124 and station 102 may be based on amounts oftraffic to be communicated between station 106 and control point 124 andstation 102, respectively. For example, a wakeup schedule including agreater number of BIs during which station 106 is to be active may bedefined for a link intended for communication of a greater amount ofdata. In one example, a first wakeup schedule may be defined betweenstation 106 and control point 124, e.g., such that station 106 is activeevery first number of BIs, while being in the power-save mode duringother BIs; and a second wakeup schedule may be defined between station106 and station 102, e.g., such that stations 106 and 102 are activeevery second number of BIs, while being allowed to be in the power-savemode during other BIs. The first number of BIs may be greater than thesecond number of BIs, for example, if an amount of data to becommunicated between station 106 and control point 124 is lesser than anamount of data to be communicated between stations 106 and 102. Forexample, the first wakeup schedule may define that station 106 is activeevery fifth BI for communication with control point 124; and the secondwakeup schedule may define that station 106 is active every second BIfor communication with station 102.

Reference is made to FIG. 3, which schematically illustrates a method ofpower management scheduling, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more operationsof the method of FIG. 3 may be performed by a wireless network e.g., thePBSS of FIG. 1, a device, e.g., station 106 (FIG. 1), and/or a wirelesscommunication unit, e.g., wireless communication unit 108 (FIG. 1).

As indicated at block 302, the method may include transmitting aninformation request frame from a wireless communication device to acontrol point of a wireless area network, the information request frameidentifying at least one destination wireless communication device ofthe wireless area network. For example, wireless communication unit 108(FIG. 1) may transmit to control point 124 (FIG. 1) an informationrequest frame identifying station 102 (FIG. 1), e.g., as describedabove.

As indicated at block 304, the method may include receiving from thecontrol point a response including wakeup information defining a wakeupschedule including at least one wakeup period of the destinationwireless communication device. For example, wireless communication unit108 (FIG. 1) may receive from control point 124 (FIG. 1) informationdefining the wakeup schedule of station 102 (FIG. 1), e.g., as describedabove.

As indicated at block 306, the method may include transmitting, based onthe wakeup information, a wireless transmission from the wirelesscommunication unit directly to the destination wireless communicationdevice during the wakeup period of the destination wirelesscommunication device. For example, wireless communication unit 108(FIG. 1) may transmit directly to station 102 (FIG. 1) during the wakeupperiod of station 102 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 308, the method may include establishing a commonwakeup schedule between the wireless communication unit and thedestination wireless communication device. The common wakeup schedulemay include at least one common wakeup period for direct communicationbetween the wireless communication unit and the destination wirelesscommunication device. The common wakeup schedule may be, for example,different from a wakeup schedule between the wireless communication unitand the control point and/or a wakeup schedule between the destinationwireless communication device and the control point, e.g., as describedabove.

As indicated at bock 309, establishing the common wakeup schedule mayinclude transmitting a wakeup-configuration request to the destinationwireless communication device, the wakeup-configuration request definingthe common wakeup schedule. For example, wireless communication unit 108(FIG. 1) may send to station 102 (FIG. 1) a wakeup-configurationrequest, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 310, establishing the common wakeup schedule mayinclude receiving an acknowledgement from the destination wirelesscommunication device. For example, wireless communication unit 108(FIG. 1) may receive an acknowledgement from station 102 (FIG. 1), e.g.,as described above.

As indicated at block 312, establishing the common wakeup schedule mayinclude transmitting to the control point information defining thecommon wakeup schedule. For example, wireless communication unit 108(FIG. 1) may transmit information defining the common wakeup schedulewith station 102 (FIG. 1) to control point 124 (FIG. 1), e.g., uponreceiving the wakeup-configuration acknowledgment from station 102 (FIG.1); and/or station 102 (FIG. 1) may transmit information defining thecommon wakeup schedule with station 106 (FIG. 1) to control point 124(FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

Reference is made to FIG. 4, which schematically illustrates an articleof manufacture 400, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.Article 400 may include a machine-readable storage medium 402 to storelogic 404, which may be used, for example, to perform at least part ofthe functionality of wireless communication unit 108 (FIG. 1), station102 (FIG. 1), station 105 (FIG. 1), station 106 and/or control point 124(FIG. 1); and/or to perform one or more operations of the method of FIG.2 and/or FIG. 3.

In some demonstrative embodiments, article 400 and/or machine-readablestorage medium 402 may include one or more types of computer-readablestorage media capable of storing data, including volatile memory,non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable ornon-erasable memory, writeable or re-writeable memory, and the like. Forexample, machine-readable storage medium 402 may include, RAM, DRAM,Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM), SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM,programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), Compact Disk ROM (CD-ROM), CompactDisk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), flash memory(e.g., NOR or NAND flash memory), content addressable memory (CAM),polymer memory, phase-change memory, ferroelectric memory,silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, a disk, a floppydisk, a hard drive, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a card, a magneticcard, an optical card, a tape, a cassette, and the like. Thecomputer-readable storage media may include any suitable media involvedwith downloading or transferring a computer program from a remotecomputer to a requesting computer carried by data signals embodied in acarrier wave or other propagation medium through a communication link,e.g., a modem, radio or network connection.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 404 may include instructions,data, and/or code, which, if executed by a machine, may cause themachine to perform a method, process and/or operations as describedherein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processingplatform, computing platform, computing device, processing device,computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like,and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware,software, firmware, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 404 may include, or may beimplemented as, software, a software module, an application, a program,a subroutine, instructions, an instruction set, computing code, words,values, symbols, and the like. The instructions may include any suitabletype of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code,executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. Theinstructions may be implemented according to a predefined computerlanguage, manner or syntax, for instructing a processor to perform acertain function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitablehigh-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/orinterpreted programming language, such as C, C++, Java, BASIC, Matlab,Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code, and the like.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, tobe understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of communicating in a wireless network,comprising: transmitting, to a control point of the wireless network, arequest frame identifying a particular wireless communication device inthe wireless network; receiving, from the control point, a responseframe in response to the request frame, the response frame includingwakeup information indicating a wakeup schedule of the particularwireless communication device; transmitting a wireless transmission tothe particular wireless communication device during a wakeup periodindicated in the wakeup schedule; and operating in an active mode tocommunicate over the wireless network during a contention-based periodof a beacon interval and switching from the active mode to a power-savemode during the contention-based period after transmitting to thecontrol point a message containing a power-mode bit set to a 1 toindicate a request to switch from the active mode to the power-save modeand receiving from the control point an acknowledgment of the message;wherein said transmitting to the control point and said receiving fromthe control point are over a 60 GHz frequency band.
 2. A method ofcommunicating in a wireless network, comprising: transmitting a wirelesstransmission to a wireless communication device during a wakeup periodindicated in a previously-received wakeup schedule for the wirelesscommunication device; operating in an active mode to communicate overthe wireless network during a contention-based period of a beaconinterval; transmitting a message indicating an intent to switch from theactive mode to a power-save mode, the message containing a power-modebit set to a value of 1; receiving an acknowledgement to the message;and switching from the active mode to the power-save mode during thecontention-based period; wherein said transmitting the message and saidreceiving the acknowledgement are over a 60 GHz frequency band.